Alarm apparatus.



W. McCLEARY.

ALARM APPARATUS.

APPAICATIOVN FILED AUG.29. 1914.

1,161,708; Patented-Nov. 23, 1915.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

W. McCLEARY.

ALARM APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.29. 1914.

1 ,1 61,708. Patented Nov. 23, 1915.

Z SHEETSSHEET 2.

COLUMBIA PLANOORAFH COHWASHINOTONI D. C.

WILLIAM MOCLEARY, OF HAMMOND, INDIANA.

ALARM APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 23, 1915.

Application filed August 29, 1914. Serial No. 859,173.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IVILLIAM MGCLEARY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hammond, in the county of Lake and State of Indiana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Alarm Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in alarm apparatus and has particular application to an apparatus of the class described for sounding an alarm in the event of the escape of illuminating gas or the like.

In carrying out the present invention, it is my purpose to provide an apparatus of thertype set forth whereby an audible alarm will be given in the event of illuminating gas escaping in a bedroom or other compartment so that the proper authorities will be notified of the escape of the gas.

It is also my purpose to provide an alarm apparatus which will embody among other features a vessel containing a fluid heavier than the escaping gas and adapted to drop'when surrounded by such gas, and a signal connected with the vessel and designed to operate upon the movement of the vessel incident to the presence of gas.

Furthermore, I aim to provide an apparatus of this class which will embrace the desired features of simplicity, eflicienc and durability; which may be readily an conveniently installed and which will operate effectively for its intended purpose.

WVith the above and other objects in View, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth in and falling within the scope of the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through an apparatus constructed in accordance with my present invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a similar View on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view through the device. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the fluid containing vessel and the balance rod supporting the same removed from the apparatus. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side elevation of a detail of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, 1 designates a box-like rece tacle preferably rectangular in contour an constructed of any suitable material such, for instance, as wood. Arranged within the receptacle 1 and disposed adjacent to one end thereof is a container 2 composed of any suitable material and holding a quantity of transformer oil 3, while depending from the top wall of the container 2 and extending into the oil 3 is a partition 4 serving to divide the container into non-communicating fluid tight compartments. Secured to the top wall of one of the compartments of the container 2 are binding posts of any suitable construction connected to the terminals of an electric circuit 6 including a suitable source of electrical energy 7 and an audible signal as a bell 8. Connected with. the binding post 5 and depending into the respective compartment of the container 2 are contact strips 9 having the lower ends thereof bent upwardly toward each other and. spaced apart and adapted, when bridged, to close the circuit 6 so that the bell 8 will be energized. Uprising from the bottom wall of the receptacle 1 approximately centrally thereof and adjacent to the container 2 is a post 10 having the upper end thereof bifurcated as at 11 and the extremities of the limbs of the bifurcated portion slotted as at 12 to form bearings for a knife edge pivot pin 13. This pivot pin 13 is passed through the central portion of a horizontal balance rod 14 capable of movement upon the post 10 and preferably screw threaded for a portion of its length to receive adjusting weights 15, 15 disposed at opposite sides of the pivot point of the rod and capable of movement along the rod to enable the latter to be properly balanced. Upon one end of this rod 14: is secured in some suitable manner a vessel 16 designed to contain a fluid heavier than the illuminating gas, while connected to the opposite end of the rod is a substantially U- shaped yoke 17 having one limb passed through an opening in the top wall of one of the compartments or chambers of the container 2 and connected with the adjacent end of the rod 14:, and the opposite extremity disposed within the other chamber or compartment of the container and equipped with a bridging block 18 suitably secured thereto and insulated therefrom as at 19.

In practice, the alarm apparatus is suitably secured to the ceiling of the room or other compartment to be protected and under normal conditions the balance rod 14 maintains a substantially horizontal position thereby holding the bridging block 18 out of the engagement with the contact strips 9, 9. However, should illuminating gas flow into the room or compartment, such gas, naturally, ascends and displaces the air in the vicinity of the vessel 16, thereby permitting the latter to gravitate or drop and swing the balance rod 1 1 about its pivot point with the eifect to elevate the yoke 17 and so bring the bridging block 18 into engagement with th contact strip 9. Thus, the circuit 6 is closed and the alarm 8 sounded. In the present instance, the pivot pin of the balance rod is provided with a depending indicator finger 20 working over a scale 21 fastened to the post 10. By means of the finger and scale it will be readily determined when the rod 14 is properly balanced, as is readily apparent.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction, mode of operation and manner of employing my invention will be readily apparent. It will be seen that I have provided a gas alarm wherein the actuating medium is heavier than the escaping gas so that when the latter surrounds such medium the latter will tend to gravitate or drop thereby bringing the alarm into service. While I have herein shown and described one preferred form of my invention by way of illustration, I wish it to be understood that I do not limit or confine myself to the precise details of construction herein described and delineated, as modification and variation may be made within the scope of the claim without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

A container holding a quantity of oil, a partition secured to the top wall of said container and extending downwardly and immersed in the oil and dividing the container into compartments, contacts in one of said compartments spaced apart, a yoke having one limb disposed within one of said compartments and the remaining limb disposed within the other compartment and projecting upwardly through the top wall thereof, a bridging block on the first-mentioned limb of said yoke adapted to bridge said contacts in the upward movement of the yoke, and means for moving said yoke to engage said block with said contacts and disengage the block from the contacts.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WVILLIAM MCCLEARY.

Vitnesses CHAS. VAN GILDER, TOM MEARA.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

